Our expectations of leadership are masculine, when we evaluate men’s potential, we are much more likely to see them as a good fit. Women do not meet our masculine expectations, therefore the projection is never triggered.
This male bias in our cognitive processing of leadership potential is powerful. “Think manager, think male” means we can fail to see women’s leadership potential. In fact, research suggests that men and women behave very similarly in senior roles, but men routinely receive higher leadership ratings.
On today’s podcast, Lisa S. Kaplowitz, Executive Director at Rutgers Center for Women in Business will be joining us to discuss the harmful ways women have to change themselves to fit the ideal worker image, and organizations that devalue anyone who differs from it. In an article for Harvard Business Review entitled, 5 Harmful Ways Women Feel They Must Adapt in Corporate America Lisa and two co-authors share findings from their research, Lisa outlines what these adaptations are and why they are ultimately harmful.
She also leaves us with some actions to implement into our workplaces in order to bridge the gap in the devaluing of difference:
Action One: Be aware – Know what an ideal worker looks like when they show up in your workplace.
Action Two: Ask – Do not assume. Ask an employee how you can support them, what additional resources they might need and what help they may need to advance in their career or to get a project to completion.
Action Three: Ensure interactions are authentic, genuine and informal conversations.
Action Four: Give feedback. Honest feedback, without sugar coating. Allow feedback to be a conversation where all can have their say.
Rutgers Center for Women in Business
Lisa S Kaplowitz
If You Can See It You Can Be It - Dr. Tarika Barrett and Denise Lintz
Why the future of gender is non-binary : Christy Pruitt-Haynes
Empathy: How to build and use it at work – Rob Volpe
How to be anti-racist in business – Trudi Lebron
Why AI treats men and women differently and what to do about it - Alexandra Ebert
The Pro’s and Con’s of Diversity Targets: Michelle King and Kelly Thomson
If Companies Want To Keep Black Employees They Need To Support Their Side Hustle - Rosanna Durruthy
How To Check Your Privilege - with Myisha T. Hill
Why more men than women have opportunities and are rewarded for being creative at work - Eve Rodsky
The Real Reason You Are Struggling To Hire Diverse Candidates - Michelle King and Kelly Thomson
You are closer to being homeless than you think – Regina Jackson
Equality Won’t Be Achieved With The Passing Of Time: Why Younger Generations Hold The Least Progressive Views – with Michelle Harrison
10 DEI Lessons for 2022 with Michelle King and Kelly Thomson
What you need to know about the future of leadership: Jennifer Jordan
Communication Agility: How to talk to anyone - Felicity Wingrove
How to stop hating your job - Dr Kathryn Owler
How to move from being a bystander to an upstander – Rohit Bhargava and Jennifer Brown
The Status of Fatherhood – Gary Barker
The Wellbeing Case for DEI - Dr Marlette Jackson
How To Deal With Burnout - Ashley Morgan
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